Taiwan ~ More than just a Vibrant City

My husband has been suggesting a family vacation in Taiwan like for years now ~ but I just shrugged the suggestion as I don't see anything special nor exciting about it.  Well, his persistence paid off ~  we were visiting one of the regular travel fairs in SMX, when I spotted good Taiwan airfare promo via Eva Air.  

He was all smiles as I paid for the airfare. 

I was like, 8 days and 7 nights in Taiwan ~ what is there to do?
So I started my planning and research early to work on filling in our 8 days schedule. 

I was actually surprised, that while doing my planning 8 days seemed too short to really see and enjoy what Taiwan has to offer.  It may be a small country (imagine just 6 hours via  car from the top most to the bottom most part of Taiwan), but is gifted with so many beautiful places.  

So sorry to say there are no museums, Taipei 101 nor Chiang Kai-shek memorial in our Taiwan blog post.  For our Taiwan trip, we were definitely leaving Taipei City and touring its outskirts ~ Kaohsiung, Kenting, Taitung and Hualien!  We were determined to see Taiwan's beautiful coastlines and grand, towering mountains.  

Our 8 days in Taiwan allowed us 2 days in Taipei City and  5 days for a Taiwan Island Tour

Below is our itinerary (please click  below links to the separate blog post per day for more tips):

Day 1 (Arrival / Taipei City)
Maokong Gondola 
Huashan 1914 
Guanhua Digital
Taipeieye
We stayed at the Cityinn Plus Hotel in Ximen (very close to the Ximending Walking Street, so we were out and about "also reads as shopping and eating"  until the wee hours) while in Taipei City


Day 2 - Jiufen and Pinxi Tour
Yin Yang Sea
Golden Waterfalls
Jiufen Old Street
Pinxi (with Sky Lantern Making Activity)


 

Day 3 - Sun Moon Lake + Natural Spring
Sun Moon Lake bus tour
Ita Thao Village
Xuan Zang
Wenwu Temple 
Ci En Pagoda
Relaxing Spa Retreat at the Fleur De Chien Hotel


Day 4 - Sun Moon Lake / Foguangshan Monastery / Kaohsiung
Sun Moon Lake via the Xiangshan Visitors Center
Jiji Temple
Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Monastery
Love River
Liuhe Night Market
Rest at the Grand Hi-Lai Hotel

Day 5 - Kaohsiung / Kenting / Taitung (Zhiben Hot Spring)

Maobitu
Eluanbi Light House
Kenting Scenic Coastal Area
Longpan Park
Overnight at the Hotel Royal Chihpen


Day 6 - Taitung / East Coast National Scenic Area / Hualien
East Coast National Scenic Area
Xiaoyeliou
Sansientai
Stone Steps
Caves of the Eight Immortals
Marble factory
Taroko Gorge
Stay at Silk Place Taroko


Day 7 - Hualien / Taroko Gorge

Ci Mu Bridge
Qingshui Cliff

Changchun Temple

Buluowan Recreational Area
Swallow Grotto

Eternal Spring Shrine

Shakadang Trail
Last day shopping at Ximending

Day 8 - Departure

I originally planned 2/28 Peace Park and National Taiwan Museum for our last day. But we must have walked more than 70 kilometers in the duration of our Taiwan stay, we were too exhausted by Day 8. We just stayed in the hotel and slept! 

Take-aways:

1. Taiwan's weather is unpredictable and gets quite HUMID (in bold, don't tell me I didn't warn you). 
• Bring automatic sturdy umbrella (that easily opens and closes) ~ cheap umbrellas will not withstand the strong winds in the coastal areas. 
• Bring light jacket and a cap. 
• My son brought with him a handheld USB fan (it was such a blessing).
2. Wear loose/comfortable clothes. Wear your best walking shoes. 
3. Must bring sunscreen and insect repellants (they have humongous mosquitoes, and I am NOT kidding)
4. If you are touring via bus, you would want to sit in front and on the right side (facing front) for the best view. 
5. Bring water and hydrate.   
6. Don't miss the night markets. Try tiger prawn, oyster omelette, Taiwan sausage, chicken steak, cheesy potato, pork bun... And don't forget the bubble teas and in season fruits!  Oh, just try everything!
7. Shopping tips:
• Pastries seemed cheaper in the outskirts
• Bargaining is okay when shopping in the night markets (even in Ximending, example they would sell shirts at NTD200 - I bought 4 for only NTD600).  Remember to ask nicely though (always smile).
• Nice buys are sweets (pineapple tarts and nougats), thin pork crisp and jerkies, shoes (I got nice handmade sandals in Kaohsiung for NTD250) , computer and mobile phone peripherals (so cheap at the Guanghua Digital Mall - if you are buying electronics go here, imagine 6 floors of electronic equipment), cute t-shirts (buy the good quality ones), beaded bracelets (the cheapest we saw were at Ita Thao Village and Xuanzang Temple in Nantou).
• We got real nice leather key chains and wallets at Jiufen (they were personalized too) make wonderful souvenirs. 
• If you are running short of time - you may pre-order your "pasalubong" via Klook and pick-up your order at the airport before check-in.  Price difference in marginal and you get your items nicely packed (in boxes) for easier transport. If you are new to Klook, clink this link for extra discounts >>> KLOOK .
• I found electronics (PS4, mobile phones) a lot cheaper (for instance a Samsung A9 costs 28,000 pesos in TPE vs 35,000 pesos Samsung Store Manila price) at TPE. However, they only have Taiwan warranty (No international warranty).   

I never thought that 8 days in Taiwan will be too short. 

We missed a lot ~ we weren't able to try the Knife Massage, tour the North Coast of Taiwan and do farm tours/stay. I think another 3-4 days would have covered that.  

I must admit, my husband was right including Taiwan in our bucket list.  I guess a "We shall be back Taiwan" is in order!

Special Notes:

• For our Day 2 - Jiufen / Pinxi was made through MyTaiwanTour
• For our Day 3-7 - Taiwan Island Tour was made through Edison Tours

Both tours were worry free and allowed us to see and experience the most of Taiwan in under 8 days. 

Day 1 (Arrival / Taipei City)
Day 2 - Jiufen and Pinxi Tour
Day 4, 5 and 6 - Taiwan Island Excursion (Part 1)

Day 6 and 7 - Taiwan Island Excursion (Part 2)